The Bangor Police Department shared a word of caution on Facebook about something you might not give a second thought. Some of these seemingly harmless bottles might get you 15 cents, but they can be extremely dangerous.

Police have busted a record number of meth labs in Maine this year, reaching 45 this week when they uncovered a lab in a Wells home. Along with large meth labs found in homes, hotel rooms, and other spaces around Maine, evidence of small batch cooking operations are being discovered in local parks and wooded areas. The photo below shows three bottles filled with cloudy sludge with an empty box of pseudoephedrine medicine, a key component of methamphetamine.

"The residue left behind in these bottles by the idiotic and chemically gifted, anonymous Jimmy Neutron, is poisonous and should not be touched by children or adults. Grabbing this 15 cents in returnables could be dangerous and we advise avoiding picking them up."

Although the Bangor Police Department is well known for their comedic approach on social media, their warning is real:

"If you see someone using this method with several bottles, small hose or straw, Sudafed, batteries or similar implements, walk away. The process itself is very dangerous and explosions can and do occur."

The author of the post says that when it comes to stray returnables on the side of footpath the rule is simple, "Any sludge in a bottle is the exact moment when I make a decision not to pick it up so don't depend on the color as your red flag."

Stay safe!

 

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